Liebster Award! Thank You!

Tina from http://ollieanddextersmommy.blogspot.com/ has given me the The Liebster Blog Award! Thank you Tina. I really appreciate your thoughtfulness!

The Liebster Blog award is given to bring newer blogs into the light. It's a great way to share blogs that might not otherwise have been noticed and should be!

As recipient you must share the love and pass it along to others.  As well as these four things:
1. You must post on your blog and tell a little about the award and announce your 3-5 picks.
2. Let those know you have chosen them.
3. Copy and post the award on your blog for all to see.

I’ve decided to pass this award on to the following wonderful blogs:

1. Michelle at http://paperaffair.blogspot.com/

2. Nancy at http://lanancyworkshop.blogspot.com/

3. Normea at http://mmdezigns.blogspot.com/

4. Debbie at http://www.debseclecticthoughts.blogspot.com/

5. Monique at http://mixonthememories.blogspot.com/

These are some very talented ladies with some great projects. Stop by and take a look!

I am only 10 people away from 200 followers! Wow, this whole blog world is amazing! I have met so many people who have now become my friends. I am truly blessed!

Ummm, Cake Balls!

I just had to share this with you. I am NOT the cooking, baking, let’s hang around the kitchen type. I wish that I was – it looks so homey on those movies and TV shows that I watch. Oh well! So when I made these cake balls,  everyone was surprised! And even  more surprised that they were really good!

Even though this is not Cricut related, I did find this when I was reading different blogs about Cricut and paper crafting! who knew that Cricut would take me back to the kitchen – I thought I was finished with that Cricut Cake machine for good! I wish that I could thank the person that I got this idea from but I’ve searched and can’t find it. So if you know who posted the recipe please comment and let me know! Thanks.

Just looking at the pictures is making me drool – I can’t believe that I said that in front of all of these people! They are so easy to make, too.

Just bake up a regular red velvet  box cake. Follow the directions for the 9x11 sheet cake. After baking, let it cool completely. After it cools, start to crumble it up (you might have to use your hands for this part) and add a 16oz can of Cream Cheese frosting – your hands will be a mess after this but just think of the fun you’ll have licking your fingers when you’re finished! The frosting will help the cake stay together. Now just shape the cake into small balls either with your hands – more licking! – or with a small scoop or spoon. Lay the balls out onto foil (I just covered my cookie sheets with foil). It makes quite a few balls - or else I was rolling my balls too much and made them too small! Once you have them all rolled out – mine looked like I had two cookie sheets of meat balls! – place the sheet in the fridge for several hours. Now the fun part! I purchased some candy sticks at Michaels but you don’t have to use them. I melted some chocolate almond bark in the microwave -  I added about a tablespoon to Crisco to it first. I put the sticks into the cake balls and when the chocolate was ready I dipped the cake into the chocolate (I double-dipped!) and then put them on wax paper to let the chocolate cool and harden. I went an extra step and melted some white chocolate almond bark and drizzled some over the top of the cake balls.

Great snack and nice for a get-together! Maybe at the next crop!

Now don’t go away, tomorrow I’ll be giving you the tutorial on the Glass Block that I made for my Fabulous & 50 Birthday Blog Hop last Saturday!

And I’ll be announcing the winner of the Nifty Fifties Cricut cartridge soon! So until next time, Happy Crafting,

Some Vinyl Projects!

What a great day I had yesterday! The Fabulous & 50 Blog Hop was so much fun and everyone involved had great projects! I can’t stop thanking them enough – so here we go, just one more time: Dawn, Janice, Normea, Nancy, Michelle, Barbara, Debbie, Marcia, Veronica, Tina, and last but not least, my girl, Monique. Thanks again to all of you for celebrating with me and being great friends! Scroll down to yesterdays post if you missed it!

I will get the tutorials made this week about the Glass Block that I made and the Origami Mini Book also. So keep checking back or better yet, subscribe to my blog and you will automatically receive my blog posts! But today I just wanted to share a couple of projects that I made back in BC – that’s Before Cricut! I had the Baby Bug but I also wanted something that would allow me to do more and design – so DH bought the Wishblade for me! More on that later!

In the first design, I bought the file from Paper Threads but I’m so sorry that I can not remember the actual designers name.

Jesus’ face is so detailed. This was a gift for a friend so I purchased an inexpensive clear glass plate and placed the cut black vinyl on it. She loved it!

Look at this – isn’t it amazing! If you know the designer please leave a comment. This was a very simple gift to make. I love working with vinyl so much!

This next project is all mine! I knew her family’s names and the fact that family was extremely important to her.

So easy to do with vinyl! Ok, now back to the Wishblade – I loved my WB and my little Bug just sat in the corner of my craft room. That was until I discovered the Gypsy and the Design Studio! I {HEART} my G & my DS! And that’s when I found out that I could do many of the things that I did in my WB program but with the G & DS it was SO MUCH EASIER! Yes, I know that with the WB I could use all of the fonts on my computer but between all of the carts that I own, surely I can find at least one font that will work with my projects! So even though I still have my WB (and I’ll never part with it) I absolutely {HEART} my Cricut family. Since then I have adopted a Cricut Expression, a Cricut Cake, the Design Studio, too many carts (lol, but the next one is just around the corner!), and my precious Gypsy! My little ‘family’ is very close and we spend a lot of time together! Maybe too much if you talk to some others, like those real people that stay here too! But with your Cricut, you can design the second project above in just minutes! You don’t need the G or DS but let me tell you, those two make my life so much easier! And if you get a Gypsy NOW and register it by tomorrow, you’ll be able to download extra cartridges – FREE! Now that’s a deal!

Well, time to go play with my family! Until next time, Happy Crafting,

My Fabulous & 50 Birthday Blog Hop

“Happy Birthday To Me!” Good morning and welcome to My Fabulous & 50 Birthday Blog Hop! I am celebrating my 50th birthday (which is actually TODAY!) with 11 of my good friends who have graciously agreed  to design projects for the blog hop. These are a great group of talented ladies and I want to thank them so much for helping me on this special day! Please leave them some blog love (comments) after looking at their projects – don’t we all love to be loved? After my blog, just visit the next person on the list below (Dawn) and just keep hopping! Also, at the end of my post I have some extra special blog candy to give away!

I actually made 3 projects for today’s blog hop. The first is a little box that you could make to put a special birthday gift in.

I created this file on Cricut Design Studio but then made it into a Gypsy file so I could cut it with just my Expression and my Gypsy. I used George and Basic Shapes for the box and the flower, Storybook for the label shape on top of the box, and Paper Lace for the sentiment. The paper is from K&Company.

The box is made up of rectangles and the octagon shape that is just stretched out.

I cut three label shapes – 2 from cardstock and 1 from patterned paper.

After scoring and folding the box, I attached ribbon on three sides – top, back, and bottom.

I cut about an inch from one side of both of the cardstock labels and cut the patterned paper label in half. I attached the cardstock pieces to the top and bottom of the box and the paper piece to the top. Then I used the flower from George and cut it out eight times –at 1’, 1.25”, 1.50”, 1.75”, 2”, 2.25”, 2.50”, and 2.75”. I used the Hide Contour to hide the center circle.

 

I sprayed the white cardstock flowers with Glimmer Mist in Tattered Rose then curled the petals with the end of a paint brush.

The petals were layered with a pop dot between each layer.

I cut the Happy Birthday sentiment and its shadow from the Paper Lace cartridge at 1.50”. I added bling to the flower and the sentiment. And here is the final Box!

But I just couldn’t stop there! I also made a little Birthday Origami Mini Album and a Glass Block to go with it. The design on the glass block was cut from pink vinyl.

I’ll be back later next week to give more details about the mini album and the glass block. Now for the Blog Candy Giveaway! I decided to give something that was appropriate for todays celebration -

That’s right – it’s a Nifty Fifties Cricut Cartridge!

Please just leave a comment and follow my blog to have a chance to win! Thanks so much for sharing a little of my 50th birthday with me!

Now here’s the list to follow the rest of the blog hop! Enjoy!

Angie - http://angiespaperpassion.blogspot.com/ <---Me!
Dawn - http://scrappyrn-scrappyrn.blogspot.com/ 
Janice - http://www.cricutconfessions.com/
Normea - http://mmdezigns.blogspot.com/
Nancy - http://lanancyworkshop.blogspot.com/
Michelle - http://paperaffair.blogspot.com/
Barb - http://craftinginparadise.blogspot.com/
Debbie - http://www.debseclecticthoughts.blogspot.com/
Marcia - http://scrappin-times.blogspot.com/
Veronica - http://www.iteachscraps.blogspot.com/
TinaGale - http://tiggersscrapplace.blogspot.com/
Monique - http://mixonthememories.blogspot.com/

Remember, if you ever get lost on your way, just come back here to get back on track! Thanks again for hopping with us!

Until next time, Happy Crafting,

My Fabulous & 50 Blog Hop–Saturday, Feb. 26

I want to invite everyone to My Fabulous 50 Blog Hop this Saturday, Feb. 26th!

I’m hosting this hop to celebrate my 50th birthday which happens to actually be on Saturday! I’d like to much rather say that I’ll be 20 years old with 30 years of experience! LOL! I have asked a very wonderful and talented group of friends to help me celebrate by joining me on my birthday blog hop. That means there will be many great projects for you to see! So spread the word and make sure that you come back here to Angie’s Paper Passion on Saturday morning to start the hop.

I’ll also be giving away a very appropriate Cricut cartridge as my blog candy!!!

Until next time, Happy Crafting,

It’s a Card Day! (Stamping but no Cricut!)

Since my Mom doesn’t get out much but she loves to send cards to people, I try to help her out by making cards and sending them to her with a book of stamps. I made an altered lunch pail for her last year to keep her cards all together. So when there’s a birthday, anniversary, or a death – hey she is 91! – she only has to go as far as her dining room table to pick out a card! Well, I have been cleaning out my scrap room – seems like I’ll NEVER get it finished – and I came across some cards that I made in my Stampin’ Up! days. I gathered them up to send to my Mom but I wanted to share them with you first.

I used one of my favorite stamp sets on the card on the right!

I tried my hand at water coloring with the card on the left! I used watercolor paper to stamp the image on and then embossed it in gold. I really liked how it came out!

The stamp set on the left was the very first set that I purchased before I became a SU Demo. It’s been discontinued but it is still one of my most favorites. I did some masking on the card on the right. I miss Kiwi Kiss!

I have a few more cards to share with you tomorrow. One is very fun and only uses punches! I’ll bet that it could be created on the Cricut! Ummmm! Something to think about!

It’s blog candy time from the Craftin’ Sistahs Blog Hop! I hope that everyone enjoyed the Craftin’ Sistahs very first Blog Hop. I had a great time and it has inspired me to host my own Blog Hop to celebrate my birthday! So keep in touch – there will be some great blog candy given away then also!

So the winner of my Blog Candy is………………… (drum roll please!)

 

Craft Creations by Netta

She said... “great project..thanks for the instructions..I am now a follower of your blog”

Here are your random numbers:

3	

Timestamp: 2011-02-16 12:15:17 UTC

Thanks Netta for joining us in the blog hop and for becoming a follower! Please send me your name and addy to I can get your candy to you! I also hope that you liked my blog. I would love to have you come back and visit again.

Until Next Time,

Bra & Panty Card by Guest Designer Monique

Today I asked my friend Monique of Mix-on The Memories to share one of her beautiful projects with us. Please enjoy reading her post and please go to her blog and leave her some love (comments!). Thank you!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have been asked to be a guest Blogger for a friend of mine, Angela. We met at a training section with Provo Craft in Chicago. It was one of the highlights of my Crafting career.

I was going to have the card that I did for my first Blog Hop on Friday, but since I had an extra day I decided to make some Bra & Panty Cards that I love to make with the extra paper from the card that I made for the Blog Hop.

Skin tone: Recollection from Michael's
Bra & Pantie: Red Roses from Colobok
Ribbon: Red from ACMoore
Rose Bud: Joann's

1. Use skin colored card stock of your choice to cut out Bra & Panty Card base.

2. Use patterned DP or colored card to cut out panties or bikini top (by using the template you have the bonus option of making a bikini top card too)

3. I can get both the top and bottom cards out of the one piece of skin colored card.

Here is the template:

I just love making these cards and can not get enough of them.

I hope you will enjoy making them as much as I do.

Thanks for looking!

Thanks, Monique, for the wonderful card and your very kind words!

Until Next time, Happy Crafting,

Valentine Love by My First Guest Designer…Michelle

Happy Valentine’s Day! I hope that today you find love, happiness, and …. Chocolate! Today a good friend of mine, Michelle, is posting here as my very first Guest Designer! I know that you will love her and her designs as much as I do. Please stop by her blog Michelle's Paper Affair and leave her some love! Thanks Michelle!

A Little Valentine Love…

Today's post will be for a guest designing spot for my friend Angela's blog ----> http://angiespaperpassion.blogspot.com/ . I met Angela in Chicago where we were both attending the Provo Craft demonstration classes for Cricut. I had so much fun meeting a lot of new people who had the same thing in common......Scrapbooking.

The picture here is of my oldest son Michael and his girlfriend Paige. She is so sweet and adorable, and I am happy to say she has captured Michael's heart.......Young Love ♥

Michael always puts great thought when looking for that something special to give to his sweetheart. This time I offered to send him something I wanted to do for them with a picture that I think is so cute of them.

I used a shadow that I picked up at my local craft store I found this awesome twig with flowers and a bird that I was able to bend so that it curved around the photo. None of my projects are ever complete without adding ribbon, and a little bling to it.

I hope I was able to make their Valentine day a little special today.

Thanks for stopping by........Michelle

Craftin’ Sistahs Blog Hop

Welcome to the Craftin' Sistahs first ever blog hop! We are a group of Facebook friends who share the same passion for papercraftin'. The hop starts with the Mix On The Memories blog and ends with A Scrap Above. Along the way you'll stop by 8 other great blogs for a total of 10! You will find creations of all kinds along the hop. Be sure to start at the first blog and follow your way all the way through...several of the divas are offering blog candy! You never know where you might find some so be careful not to miss any of the blogs. While you're there, leave some blog love! Creative people love feedback on their work! We hope you enjoy this first Craftin' Sistahs blog hop!

If you got here from Yolanda at http://yolandasscrapnstampspot.blogspot.com then Welcome! If not, you’ll want to start at the beginning of the Blog Hop at Mix on the Memories.

I made a Valentine’s Day Treat Can for todays Blog Hop! When you give one of these treats people will wonder how in the world did you get the treat inside of the can! Here’s how:
You’ll need one of these can openers that cuts off the entire lid of the can so there are no sharp edges (I got mine at Target). The can itself used to be a little easier to find when most snacks came in metal containers (not plastic) but you can still find some around. This one was a small can of sliced peaches. I have also found some at the dollar store.

 

First you need to cut off the BOTTOM of the can – NOT the top!


After cleaning out the can, I wrapped a piece of cardstock around the outside. Then using my Gypsy, I welded three of the heart lace images from the Paper Lace cartridge (page 30) together. They were each 2.70 inches tall and when welded they were 8.25 inches wide. Be very careful when cutting and lifting the image off the mat. (Sorry I didn’t get a better photo of the cut image !) I then filled the can (from the bottom) with candy. Mine is filled with Tootsie Pops – my favorite choice of candy at the moment – but it can be filled with a variety of goodies.

Once the can is filled, you’ll need to glue the bottom lid back on with a very strong liquid glue. I used super glue on mine. Just squeeze out a thin line of glue around the edge of the lid and replace it.

Now put a heavy object like a book (or two) on top of the can to hold the lid down and give it a good seal. Leave it over night to dry. (You can see the image from the Paper Lace cartridge a bit in this photo!)

After it completely dried, I added several different fibers to the pull ring (is that the name of it?) on the top of the can.

Then I cut the ‘I love You’ image and the Base Shadow from Paper Lace on page 60 at 2.50 inches tall. After adhering them together, I sprayed it with Glimmer Mist in Tattered Rose. I adhered this to the can with pop dots and added a small paper rose. And of course I had to bling it out a bit!

I wanted to add a little gift bag to put my can in so I took a store bought red bag and added “Happy Valentine’s Day” that I cut from the Celebrate with Flourish cartridge at 2 inches tall. I just love how it came out! I added the same paper rose to the bag as well.

Together, I think this would be an awesome gift for someone special for Valentine's Day! But these gift cans can be decorated for a number of special occasions – birthdays, baby showers, or just because! I hope that you enjoyed this and will try to make some treat cans for yourself!

Now, I have some blog candy to give away! Just leave a comment and follow me to be entered to win. I’ll pick a winner on Valentine’s Day!

Now on to the next blog in the Craftin’ Sistahs Blog Hop - Christel at Scrappin' Sista (see below)!


Monique: Mix On The Memories -- Mix on the Memories
Sumaiyah: Stampin' Dymonz Creative Space - http://www.StampinDymonz.com
Normea: M M DeZigns - http://mmdezigns.blogspot.com
Tammy: From Me 2 U Papercrafting - http://fromme2upapercrafting.blogspot.com
Renee: My {Life}, My {Blog} - http://www.reneehagler.typepad.com/
Yolanda: Yolanda's Scrap-N-Stamp Spot - http://yolandasscrapnstampspot.blogspot.com
Angie: Angie's Paper Passion - http://angiespaperpassion.blogspot.com <You are here!
Christel: Scrappin' Sista - http://onescrappinsista.blogspot.com
CraftyNetta – http://craftcreationsbynetta.blogspot.com
Bonnie: A Scrap Above -- http://ascrapabove.blogspot.com
Until next time, Happy Crafting,